MOM STOP: Kids and New Year’s a hard mix

Saturday

Dec 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM

If you have family in town, it might not be such a big difference. But for those of us without relatives nearby, finding a baby sitter on New Year’s Eve in a college town like Tuscaloosa is like finding water in a desert. College kids are gone and those still in town likely have plans. The high schoolers who baby-sit are reserved months ahead.

By Lydia Seabol AvantStaff Writer | The Tuscaloosa News

When I think back to some of the “epic” New Year’s Eve celebrations my husband and I have had, I think about the formal galas, the year we went to Memphis with my best friend and danced the evening away at the Peabody, or the time we drank way too much champagne while celebrating with friends at a mountain cabin in Georgia. As much as I love Thanksgiving and Christmas, I look forward to New Year’s Eve. There’s nothing like celebrating a new year and a fresh start. But if you have young kids, you know how children can throw a wrench into the plans. If you have family in town, it might not be such a big difference. But for those of us without relatives nearby, finding a baby sitter on New Year’s Eve in a college town like Tuscaloosa is like finding water in a desert. College kids are gone and those still in town likely have plans. The high schoolers who baby-sit are reserved months ahead. It’s easier to find a sitter to watch the kids during the Iron Bowl. Seriously. And so, the last couple of years we’ve celebrated New Year’s at home with our kids. No, you shouldn’t drink as much champagne as you might have, say, when you were 20. But with little ones you don’t want a hangover when you are up at dawn. No, it may not be as fun as dancing all evening at a gala, but dancing with your preschooler to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” is pretty close. Here are some ideas to help make a child-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration:- Dress up. Pull out your cocktail dresses or hubby’s suit or tuxedo. Help your kids pick out something to dress up in. Pull out costume jewelry, gloves, maybe even a princess tiara or a hat. Then start taking photos. You can set up a photo booth or stage a fashion runway show. - Make a kid-friendly playlist of your children’s favorite songs, along with a mix of your favorite music and have a dance party in the family room. For the big countdown, consider using plastic glow sticks or cans of silly string. - Celebrate New Year’s in another time zone. If your children are too young to stay up late, consider celebrating the big countdown in another time zone, whether it’s only an hour ahead at Times Square or perhaps even six hours ahead in London. - Want something low-key? Break out the blankets and the dining room chairs and build a tent in the living room. Get your pillows and sleeping bags, pop some popcorn and go “camping” indoors while you wait for midnight. - As kids get ready for the big countdown, get some construction paper, crayons or markers and tape so that the kids can make their own party hats. - Break out the champagne glasses (or get plastic, disposable ones) and make fun, non-alcohol drinks to toast the new year with your kids. - Talk to your kids about what the new year means, and ask them about their favorite memories or activities from 2013.

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